Patrick Henry College defeats Oxford moot court team again

March 28th, 2005

PURCELLVILLE, VA – The moot court team from Patrick Henry College (PHC) has won its second straight tournament against Balliol College of Oxford University. The final round was held last Monday before a panel of three judges in the Virginia Supreme Court. The panel included the Honorable Donald W. Lemons, Virginia Supreme Court Justice, as well as Senior Justices A. Christian Compton and Harry L. Carrico (former Virginia Chief Justice). All three judges selected PHC seniors Matthew du Mee and Rayel Papke as team winners. Papke was also chosen as best individual speaker.

Last fall, PHC President Michael Farris and four of his students traveled to England for their first ever international competition and won their first match against Balliol. This time, four students from Oxford traveled to Virginia for the rematch.

"We are so proud of our students as they continue to exceed our expectations," said PHC President Michael Farris. "We're honored to compete with such a prestigious university."

Moot court is a form of debate competition designed to simulate appellate court proceedings. Teams of two students function as co-counsels and stand before a panel of judges to argue one side of a legal matter. Then, in later rounds, the same teams defend the opposite position.

The two teams from Oxford attend Balliol College, one of the 39 colleges that make up Oxford University. Law students Desmond Ryan and Angela Daly represented Oxford in the final round. David J. Shaw and Kyle Pousson also competed for Patrick Henry in the competition's early rounds.